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147 / Paleozoic
Sigillaria
Sigillaria brardii
Vertical rows of leaf scars stamped the tall trunk, beneath a crown of sparse branches and grasslike microphylls.
Structured expansion · editorial review pending
- Time range
- About 307–299 million years ago
- Final stage
- End of the Carboniferous
- Geographic range
- Euramerican lowlands and seasonal wetlands
01 / ANSWER FIRST
What was Sigillaria?
This archive records Sigillaria under the scientific name Sigillaria brardii, with an age of About 307–299 million years ago and a range of Euramerican lowlands and seasonal wetlands. Vertical rows of leaf scars stamped the tall trunk, beneath a crown of sparse branches and grasslike microphylls.
Sigillaria was a giant lycophyte related to Lepidodendron. Stigmarian rooting organs anchored it in wet soils, while a high crown produced spore cones; some species tolerated drier lowlands.
02 / QUICK FACTS
Sigillaria at a glance
- Scientific name
- Sigillaria brardii
- Age
- About 307–299 million years ago
- Last recorded stage
- End of the Carboniferous
- Known range
- Euramerican lowlands and seasonal wetlands
- Broad group
- plant
- Archive era
- Paleozoic
- Habitat signals
- Wetland
- Documented regions
- Euramerican lowlands and seasonal wetlands
03 / ANATOMY
How was Sigillaria built?
Overall body plan
Vertical rows of leaf scars stamped the tall trunk, beneath a crown of sparse branches and grasslike microphylls.
Growth architecture
The available record is interpreted through preserved proportions, attachment surfaces, wear and comparison with related organisms. For Sigillaria, those observations must be separated from features added only for visual reconstruction.
Reproductive structures
Sigillaria was a giant lycophyte related to Lepidodendron. Stigmarian rooting organs anchored it in wet soils, while a high crown produced spore cones; some species tolerated drier lowlands.
Growth and individual variation
A single specimen does not define the whole species. Size, maturity, preservation and possible sex differences are considered before anatomical traits are treated as typical of Sigillaria.
04 / DIET & BEHAVIOUR
How did Sigillaria live?
Sigillaria was a giant lycophyte related to Lepidodendron. Stigmarian rooting organs anchored it in wet soils, while a high crown produced spore cones; some species tolerated drier lowlands. This ecological reconstruction is strongest where anatomy, associated organisms and the depositional setting point in the same direction.
05 / DIET & BEHAVIOUR
What shaped its ecological limits?
Its populations depended on plant communities, soils, water availability and climate. Changes in any one factor did not necessarily cause immediate extinction, but interacting pressures could reduce range, recruitment and resilience.
06 / RANGE & HABITAT
Where and when did Sigillaria live?
This archive currently lists About 307–299 million years ago; Euramerican lowlands and seasonal wetlands. Fossil or historical occurrence data describe where evidence has been found, not every place the taxon once occupied. Species-level age and range limits still require source-specific review.
Documented geographic range
Euramerican lowlands and seasonal wetlands. This boundary can change when specimens are reidentified or new localities are published.
Time window
About 307–299 million years ago, with the final recorded stage listed as End of the Carboniferous. Rock units and dating uncertainty mean the true biological range may extend beyond the known record.
Environmental setting
The archive uses the broad habitat labels Wetland. These labels help explore related records; a habitat reconstruction requires evidence from individual localities.
07 / FOSSIL EVIDENCE
What evidence supports reconstructions of Sigillaria?
Primary record
Standing trunks, bark scars, roots, leaves and cones occur together in coal measures, with anatomy preserved in petrified sections.
Comparative anatomy
Preserved structures are compared with close and functionally similar organisms. The method can constrain posture and function, but analogy alone cannot prove colour, behaviour or soft tissue.
Age and locality
Stratigraphy and occurrence records place Sigillaria within About 307–299 million years ago and Euramerican lowlands and seasonal wetlands. Reworked fossils and uncertain provenance are treated cautiously.
Open entity records
Links below connect the archive to available taxonomic and occurrence records. A matching name does not verify every ecological claim, and related-taxon links provide comparison rather than an exact species match.
08 / DISAPPEARANCE & DEBATE
Why did Sigillaria disappear?
Coal-forest fragmentation, stronger seasonality and expanding seed plants ended the dominance of tree lycophytes.
The last fossil or observation marks the youngest evidence currently known, not necessarily the death of the final individual. Explanations are strongest when timing, environmental change and population biology agree; otherwise the profile preserves uncertainty instead of assigning a single dramatic cause.
09 / FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Sigillaria FAQ
What was Sigillaria?
This archive records Sigillaria under the scientific name Sigillaria brardii, with an age of About 307–299 million years ago. Vertical rows of leaf scars stamped the tall trunk, beneath a crown of sparse branches and grasslike microphylls.
When did Sigillaria live?
The current archive range is About 307–299 million years ago; its youngest recorded stage is End of the Carboniferous.
Where was Sigillaria found?
The archive currently lists Euramerican lowlands and seasonal wetlands. Species-level locality assignments and the full geographic range still require source-specific review.
How do scientists know about Sigillaria?
Standing trunks, bark scars, roots, leaves and cones occur together in coal measures, with anatomy preserved in petrified sections.
04 / SOURCES & FURTHER READING
Check the source record
Use the scientific name to compare taxonomy, occurrence records and the fossil record. Database coverage and classifications may differ.
05 / REVISION HISTORY
How has this record changed?
- Completed an AI-assisted bilingual audit of the archive record, corrected identified issues and clarified evidence limits; independent editorial review is pending.
- Expanded into a structured bilingual profile with anatomy, ecology, range, evidence, debate and FAQs; independent editorial review is pending.
- Verified authoritative entity sources and added three responsive reconstruction sizes.
- Initial bilingual species record published.
06 / CORRECTIONS & ADDITIONS